ISEQ down after lacklustre morning

The ISEQ index of Irish shares fell 25.63 points to 6705.35 in morning trade today.

Bank of Ireland was the only financial stock to see a rise, up 5c to €12.90. AIB saw a negative move, down 20c to €17.23. Anglo Irish Bank fell 5c to €11.40. Irish Life and Permanent joined the trend, down 15c to €15.05.

Construction company Kingspan pushed the other way, rising 15c to €10.15 while scientific diagnostic products company Trinity Biotech saw the biggest rise of the morning, up 20c to €1.60.

Budget airline Ryanair saw a fall of 8c to €7.07. The airline announced today that its Dublin pilots could next month each receive a windfall of about €50,000 (at current prices) if they choose to exercise their share options in the company.

The share options, which formed part of the five-year pay, benefit and share option scheme negotiated in November 2000, fall due to be exercised at the end of November.